Oktoberfest Munich: What you need to know..Beer, Banter & Bratwurst!

September 08, 2017

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All about Germany’s BIGGEST, most POPULAR and most profitable BEER FESTIVAL and why you absolutely need to go NOW!

Oktoberfest Munich takes place at the end of September (Normally a Saturday) and lasts for around 16-18 days.

In 2017 it’s Saturday 16th – 23rd October.

The official festival kick-off starts around noon inside the oldest beer tent, Schottenhamel. Munich’s mayor taps the first keg and exclaims, O’zapft is! or, it is tapped….then the parties begin!

You’ve all heard of Oktoberfest (click for tickets) and more than likely the majority of you have either been to a similar event in your home town or came across a local pub or bar, hosting some sort of Oktoberfest activities.

They’re all great in their own way and do, to a certain extent, give you a little glimpse of what the festival holds and certainly how the beer tastes. But don’t settle for just a ‘little’ glimpse of what this fantastic festival has to offer and get yourself on that plane to Oktoberfest Munich… Prost!!!! (cheers in German)

A few years ago we decided we needed something to make us feel young and reminiscent of our hay days at Uni. ‘Home Made’ Lederhosen’s in hand, beer bellies at the ready, we made our way to Oktoberfest in Munich.

If you’re a big kid like me, you will absolutely love it and get totally blown away. And trust me, one day is definitely not enough!

Unfortunately for us, we didn’t expect the magnitude of it and we only accounted for one day at the actual festival and spent the previous few days roaming around the sights of Munich; which by the way is an amazing city in itself.

But if, or should I say when we return for another Oktoberfest Munich, we will most defiantly spend at least a few days at the actual festival.

There are a number of beer tents to choose from and if you want a seat a specific one you must reserve direct with that beer company. (See about for booking info)

Personally, we had great fun walking and tasting all the beers from each tent and if you don’t have a specific beer that you prefer, I would suggest doing the same.

An online beer expert suggest trying one of these top ten German Beers:

Pilsner

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier

Spaten Oktoberfest

Eindecker Ur-Bock

Paulaner Salvator Doppel Bock

Ayinger Brau-Hell – Helles or Mailbock

Goose Island Summertime – Kolsch

Alaskan Brewing Co. Amber – Alt

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier

Berliner Kindl Weisse

One good thing about having a seat at a table is that you can order food! There are lots and lots of great local dishes to try, each tent offering variations.

Some offer chicken and duck dishes and most will offer some sort of German sausage dish! Yum! There’s great traditional music and a great vibe from all tents, so you won’t be disappointed.

Oktoberfest Munich

But if beer isn’t your thing, fear not. Oktoberfest is not only for beer loving, party going socialites but is super child friendly and is sure to entertain all, for ‘at least’ an entire day.

Think of it like a big fair ground or amusement park with food stalls, roller coasters and huge beer tents with hundreds of energetic fun-loving folk all dressed in Lederhosen, downing beers the size of their heads that will give you guns like Arnie!

This year, as you will see from the official Oktoberfest website, there are a few new and exciting rides for you to enjoy. Maybe its best to try them out before you fill up on beer & bratwurst!

For all the kiddies, there are too many candies to be had at ‘mandelturm’ and ‘Schokoladenfabrik’ where they can watch each one being created. Don’t go home without trying a giant pretzel or a traditional gingerbread heart from ‘Michael’s Herzlmalerei’!

Altogether an amazing experience not to be missed.

It is by far the best festival we have been to yet! And if anyone was thinking about going, do it! It’s great craic!

Accommodation can get a bit pricy around the time of Oktoberfest but there are loads of cheap finds if you look hard enough. There’s always the trusted Airbnb, which we always recommend. You’ll be sure to find something within budget. And it will all be worth it in the end.

We left Oktoberfest feeling disappointed (that we didn’t have another spare (few) days to spend there). We were feeling tipsy and certainly a lot stronger in the bicep’s.

Those beer glasses are defiantly not suitable for a 5ft tall weakling like me, but who’s complaining when they’re full of BEER! My Favourite ~ for anyone who knows me!

So the moral to the story is….

If you haven’t been to Oktoberfest yet, your missing out big time! Lucky for you, tis the season to get tipsy and snap up those tickets for a tent of your choice. What are you waiting for?!

If you’re travelling in a group you can book an entire table at one of the many tents available. If your going alone or as a twosome you can choose to just head on down and roam the tents as you please, sampling the best beers.

Or you can book a seat at a random table and mingle with the locals. Either way you will have no trouble entering the grounds if you go on a weekday. Weekends get a little busier and it’s advisable to get there early to avoid waiting in line.

You may also want to reserve a seat at a table for the weekends as floor space gets crowded in the tents. Getting drinks gets a little trickier if you’re not at a table.

If you have any questions or queries, leave a comment below. We’re happy to help out for a free flight and tickets to the Bavarian Tent…haha!

TOP TIP for Oktoberfest Munich:

Look out for the clothes pegs clipped to one’s chest and see if you can guess who’s single and ready to mingle?!!!

Don’t forget to share and like us on Facebook to keep up to date with all our pics and tricks….!!

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Jan & Jan

About HHIH

Travel, Adventure & Lifestyle Bloggers

We are Janine & Janice aka.. Hitchhikinginheels!

Mrs & Mrs with a serious wanderlust for a more fulfilling lifestyle. Through HHIH, we share our Travel Hacks, Most Loved Destinations, Fashion Tips, Photography, Culinary & Outdoor Adventures. Basically we share our life as we make our way around the globe.